News
Italy PM mulls whether to quit or face Senate vote
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi faces a choice on Thursday whether to resign or face a confidence vote in the Senate he is expected to lose, obliging him to step down anyway.
French bank SocGen says hit by 4.9 bln euro fraud
French bank Societe Generale disclosed one of the biggest alleged frauds in financial history on Thursday, adding to a wave of gloom surrounding world markets battered by credit market losses.
'Jesus Tomb' is a closed case for most scholars
A group of scholars has posted a statement rejecting the claims of the "Lost Tomb of Jesus" that the Talpiot tomb belongs to Jesus a week after a conference in Jerusalem revisited some of the controversial film's assertions.
Brazil says Amazon destruction soars again
The destruction of the Amazon forest surged over the last five months of 2007, the Brazilian government said on Wednesday, only months after hailing progress in curbing deforestation.
Pakistani forces battle militants
Pakistani forces have cleared militant strongholds from three areas in the South Waziristan region on the Afghan border and 40 militants and eight soldiers have been killed in the fighting, the military said on Thursday.
China urges 'creative efforts' to end Iran standoff
China urged all sides in Iran's nuclear standoff with the West to be creative and find a new way towards a diplomatic solution.
Police chief hurt in fatal Iraq blast
The police chief of Mosul was seriously wounded in an explosion on Thursday as he toured the scene of a huge blast a day earlier which had killed at least 20 people in the northern Iraqi city, police said.
Canada quietly halted transfer of Afghan detainees
The Canadian military quietly stopped transferring detainees in Afghanistan to the control of Afghan authorities due to concern over torture allegations, according to a government letter released on Wednesday.
Police say two die in al Qaeda clash in Turkey
One police officer and one militant were killed in a clash during raids on suspected al Qaeda cells in south-eastern Turkey, police sources said on Thursday.
Congo rebels sign deal to end eastern conflict
Warring rebels and militias in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo signed a cease-fire deal on Wednesday aimed at ending conflict at the heart of one of the world's most deadly humanitarian catastrophes.
Flanagan apologises over Omagh bomb
A former Northern Ireland police chief, criticised for his handling of the 1998 Omagh bombing, publicly apologised for the first time on Wednesday to the families of those killed and injured.
Armed forces face strain of climate change
Security forces round the world will face tough new challenges as climate change unleashes violent storms, raises sea levels and causes floods and famines, a new report said on Thursday.
Terror detention extension sought
The government's controversial bid to extend the pre-charge detention period for terrorism suspects beyond 28 days will form the centre of new security proposals being unveiled on Thursday.
Olympics legacy threatened by coach shortage
The country's hopes of finishing fourth in the medals table at the London 2012 Olympics could be undermined by a lack of professional coaching, a report published by a sports think tank revealed on Thursday.
New bid to tackle youth crimewave
Teenage criminals will be targeted and urged to avoid a life of crime under new guidelines published on Thursday by police chiefs bidding to cut anti-social behaviour.
MPs to vote on below-inflation pay deal
MPs will decide on Thursday whether to accept a below-inflation pay rise after Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged them to help keep a tight rein on public spending.